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The Kyūshū J7W1 Shinden (震電, "Magnificent Lightning") fighter was a World War II Japanese propeller-driven aircraft prototype that was built in a canard design. The wings were attached to the tail section and stabilizers were on the front. The propeller was also in the rear, in a pusher configuration.

Developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as a short-range, land-based interceptor, the J7W was a response to B-29 Superfortress raids on the Japanese home islands. For interception missions, the J7W was to be armed with four forward-firing 30 mm cannons in the nose.The Shinden was expected to be a highly maneuverable interceptor, but only two prototypes were finished before the end of war. Building a gas turbine–powered version was considered but never even reached the drawing board.

The "J-" designation referred to land-based fighters of the IJN and the "-W-" to Watanabe Tekkōjo, the company that oversaw the initial design; Watanabe changed its name in 1943 to Kyūshū Hikōki K.K.[2][3]

The idea of a canard-based design originated with Lieutenant Commander Masayoshi Tsuruno, of the technical staff of the IJN in early 1943. Tsuruno believed the design could easily be retrofitted with a turbojet, when suitable engines became available.[4][5] His ideas were worked out by the First Naval Air Technical Arsenal (Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho), which designed three gliders designated Yokosuka MXY6, featuring canards.[4][6] These were built by Chigasaki Seizo K. K. and one was later fitted with a 22 hp Semi 11 (Ha-90) 4-cylinder air-cooled engine.[7]The feasibility of the canard design was proven by both the powered and unpowered versions of the MYX6 by the end of 1943,[7] and the Navy were so impressed by the flight testing, they instructed the Kyushu Aircraft Company to design a canard interceptor around Tsuruno's concept. Kyushu was chosen because both its design team and production facilities were relatively unburdened,[7] and Tsuruno was chosen to lead a team from Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho to aid Kyushu's design works.[4]

The construction of the first two prototypes started in earnest by June 1944, stress calculations were finished by January 1945,[8] and the first prototype was completed in April 1945. The 2,130 hp Mitsubishi MK9D (Ha-43) radial engine and its supercharger were installed behind the cockpit and drove a six-bladed propeller via an extension shaft. Engine cooling was to be provided by long, narrow, obliquely mounted intakes on the side of the fuselage.[9] It was this configuration that caused cooling problems while running the engine while it was still on the ground. This, together with the unavailability of some equipment parts postponed the first flight of the Shinden.

Even before the first prototype took to the air the Navy had already ordered the J7W1 into production,[9] with quotas of 30 Shinden a month given to Kyushu's Zasshonokuma factory and 120 from Nakajima's Handa plant.[9] It was estimated some 1,086 Shinden could be produced between April 1946 and March 1947.[8]On 3 August 1945, the prototype first took off, with Tsuruno at the controls, from Itazuke Air Base.[4][10] Two more short flights were made, a total of 45 minutes airborne, by war's end. Flights were successful, but showed a marked torque pull to starboard (due to the powerful engine), some flutter of the propeller blades, and vibration in the extended drive shaft.[10]

The two prototypes were the only Shinden completed. After the end of the war, one prototype was scrapped; the other J7W1 was claimed by a US Navy Technical Air Intelligence Unit in late 1945, dismantled and shipped to the United States.[11] (Some sources claim that the USN took the first built while others state that it was the second.)The sole remaining J7W1 was reassembled, but has never been flown in the United States; the USN transferred it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1960.[12] It is currently in storage at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.[4][10] In 1998 it was reported to be located at Building 7 of the U.S. National Air And Space Museum Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland.[13]

I'm going to start with a picture of the boxart. It's a decent sized box:

Next up is the instruction booklet. It's all in Japanese except for the single extra page in English. This booklet is very similar to what you'd get with a Wingnuts kit. It's 39 pages thick and the best part is that it also includes assembly photos as you go along to help make sure you're getting it right.

As you'll soon notice the parts trees are molded in three different colors: black, grey and silver. I'm not sure why they did this other than for effect. Anyone who would pick up this kit should be at least at the level where they are priming parts and filling seams.

This tree contains most of the parts for the 30mm cannon bay along with the six-bladed propeller and spinner:

The next two pictures show the wing sections along with the small tail "stabilizers" if you will. The parts are well detailed with engraved panel lines and rivets:

Next up is the cockpit section. One thing I like is how the fuselage shell also includes a good section of the main wing spar for support. It's also designed so that all of the body panels can be displayed open if you wanted to do a diorama. The engine and gunbay are completely able to be exposed:

Here's the body panels for the fuselage. It looks a little complicated but I actually like the way the parts breakdown is done. It should make for both the assembly and painting of this very easy because it's done in sections:

Next up is the engine. Let's just say the engine is a kit all in itself. And as you see how it's packed into the fuselage I can easily see how there were so many overheating problems with the aircraft:

Last up are the clear canopy pieces and the decals. The clear pieces look great but the film seems a bit thick on a few of the decals. I might just trim them down before application:

Overall......I've heard good and bad things about this kit. It looks incredible but can be a difficult build. I've heard that fit can be difficult because the kit is a little over-engineered. I'd say for the price this kit sells for ($100 to $150 range) that your average slap-em-together builder won't be buying this kit so I think any challenges can be overcome. All in all it's one of my favorite "what-if" aircraft.

You do realize that Zokei offers about $150 of aftermarket add-ons for the Shin Den, right?

Just sayin...

__________________On WF:

Now, even if I WERE to attend, y'all better keep them costume wearing types away from me. I don't like you model people. How I ever got hooked up with you geeks, I'll never know. I lived all this time, just to end up spending my days with fucking "Skill Level 3" and "Ages 8 and up". --Eagle-1, the funniest bastard on Earth!

Now, even if I WERE to attend, y'all better keep them costume wearing types away from me. I don't like you model people. How I ever got hooked up with you geeks, I'll never know. I lived all this time, just to end up spending my days with fucking "Skill Level 3" and "Ages 8 and up". --Eagle-1, the funniest bastard on Earth!

Now, even if I WERE to attend, y'all better keep them costume wearing types away from me. I don't like you model people. How I ever got hooked up with you geeks, I'll never know. I lived all this time, just to end up spending my days with fucking "Skill Level 3" and "Ages 8 and up". --Eagle-1, the funniest bastard on Earth!

Now, even if I WERE to attend, y'all better keep them costume wearing types away from me. I don't like you model people. How I ever got hooked up with you geeks, I'll never know. I lived all this time, just to end up spending my days with fucking "Skill Level 3" and "Ages 8 and up". --Eagle-1, the funniest bastard on Earth!